Asian markets ended mixed on Wednesday as US tariff worries persisted and ahead of key US economic data, including the payrolls report due on Friday that could shed more light on the health of the US economy. Seoul shares gained on tracking overnight gains on Wall Street and as traders shrugged off data that showed South Korea's consumer inflation quickened to a six-month high in January. Japanese shares rose marginally, despite a stronger yen as upbeat wage and services PMI data raised expectations for more Bank of Japan interest rate hikes this year. Chinese shares declined after the US Postal Service announced a temporary suspension of parcel shipments from China and Hong Kong -- a move that highlighted the risks of an escalating trade war. A private survey showed China’s service activity expanded at a slower pace in January.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,229.49 | -21.11 | -0.65 |
| Hang Seng | 20,597.09 | -192.87 | -0.94 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,024.23 | -49.23 | -0.70 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,547.51 | 9.95 | 0.64 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,831.48 | 33.11 | 0.09 |
| Straits Times | 3,815.37 | -7.64 | -0.20 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,509.27 | 27.58 | 1.10 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 23,161.58 | 367.62 | 1.59 |
